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A Prayer of Repentance and Plea for Mercy

For the music director. A psalm of David.

When Nathan the prophet came to him, after he had gone in to Bathsheba.[a]

51 Be gracious to me, O God, according to your loyal love.
According to your abundant mercies,
blot out my transgressions.
Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity,
and from my sin cleanse me.
For I myself know[b] my transgressions,[c]
and my sin is ever before me.

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Footnotes

  1. Psalm 51:1 The Hebrew Bible counts the superscription as the first two verses of the psalm; the English verse number is reduced by two
  2. Psalm 51:3 Literally “I, I know”
  3. Psalm 51:3 Or “rebellions”

Psalm 51[a]

For the director of music. A psalm of David. When the prophet Nathan came to him after David had committed adultery with Bathsheba.(A)

Have mercy(B) on me, O God,
    according to your unfailing love;(C)
according to your great compassion(D)
    blot out(E) my transgressions.(F)
Wash away(G) all my iniquity
    and cleanse(H) me from my sin.

For I know my transgressions,
    and my sin is always before me.(I)

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Footnotes

  1. Psalm 51:1 In Hebrew texts 51:1-19 is numbered 51:3-21.